Apparatus for actuating ribbon vibrators



A. c. POIRIER 2,984,329

APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING RIBBON VIBRATORS v May 16, 1961 Filed Oct. 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ARMAND C. POIRER BY 9 m) f; Wm

ATTORNEYS May 16, 1961 A. c. POIRIER 2,984,329

APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING RIBBON VIBRATORS Filed on. 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ARMAND C. POIRIER Egan 3 #9 ATTORNEYS United States Patent APPARATUS FOR AC'IbUATlNG RIBBON VIBRAT RS Filed Oct. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 844,979

7 Claims. (Cl. 197-159) This invention relates to a novel apparatus for actuating the ribbon vibrator of a typewriter and more particularly relates to an apparatus for automatically elevating the ribbon vibrator of a typewriter to an extended upward position when the top cover thereof is lifted.

When it is desired to change the inked ribbon of a conventional typewriter the top cover is normally lifted so as to expose the ribbon supporting and feeding means. At this time the ribbon vibrator remains in its normal lowered and relatively inaccessible position. This situation sometimes causes difliculties when a new ribbon is to be installed in the typewriter. Here the normal lowered vibrator position requires the machine operator to reach down into the machine in order to manipulate the ribbon and/or the ribbon supporting cartridges while inserting the new ribbon into the vibrator. This can be tedious and time consuming particularly where the operators hands and the ribbon spools or cartridges obstruct the view of said vibrator.

One object of the invention is to provide a manually controlled apparatus for moving the ribbon vibrator of a typewriter, or the like, to an extended ribbon changing position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for elevating the ribbon vibrator of a typewriter in response to the movement of the top cover of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for actuating a ribbon vibrator of a typewriter where by lifting of the top cover of the machine serves to displace the vibrator to an extended position and to move the ribbon retaining fingers of the vibrator to open positions. r

A further object of the invention is to provide a linkage for elevating the vibrator of a typewriter to an extended position of maximum height in response to the lifting of the top cover of the machine.

Still another object of theinvention is to provide a novel arrangement for automatically opening the ribbon retaining fingers of a vibrator in response to the elevation of the vibrator to a maximum height.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement permitting the ribbon vibrator to assume four positions, one for typing black characters, one for typing red characters, one for stenciling and one for ribbon changing.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference tothe following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view in partial section showing the ribbon vibrator and its immediate supporting means.

2 ,984,329 Patented May 16, 1961 ice Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the linkage which operates the instant vibrator.

Figures 3 and 4 are front elevational views respectively showing the normal and extended positions of the ribbon vibrator.

For the purpose of illustration the instant ribbon vibrator operating linkage will be shown and described as embodied in a portable typewriter of the type now being produced and marketed by the Royal McBee Corporation. It will be understood however that the instant apparatus may be used in conjunction with manual ofiice typewriters and electric typewriters. Unless otherwise stated in the ensuing specifications the various parts may be assumed to be conventionally or suitably supported by the machine side frames 5 and 6 or the outer housing 7.

The pertinent portions of the conventional ribbon vibrator operating linkage are shown in Figures 1-3 and include a ribbon vibrator body 8 which is slidably mounted in the usual manner for vertical reciprocating movement on the type bar guide support 9. The vibrator body is provided with a pair of integral upwardly extending ribbon guide posts 10 and 11 and swingably mounts a pair of ribbon retaining fingers 12; and 13 which are adapted to cooperate with said posts respectively to thereby define two ribbon guide apertures. The fingers 12 and 13 are yieldably biased to their closed positions by means of a spring 14. A depending projection 15 is formed on the vibrator body 8 and is articulately connected to the actuator arm 16, Figure 2, pivotally mounted at 17 on the machine frame. A link 20 is swingably supported in the machine frame by being pivotally secured, as at 21, to the arm 16 and articulately connected through link 22 to the radially outer portion of a ribbon cam 23 that is rotatably secured to the shaft 24. Shaft 24 is supported by frame bracket arms 25 and 26 for axial and rotative movement. A detent cam 27 is secured to the end of shaft 24 for cooperation with a spring biased detent pawl 28 pivotally mounted on the machine frame so that the shaft 24 may yieldably be retained in any one of three rotative positions respectively corresponding to the typing of black, red and stencilled characters. The shaft 24 may be rotatably indexed through the crank arm 30 and a link 31 which are connected to the usual manually operated bichrome ribbon setting lever disposed in the front panel of the typewriter. A compression spring 32 operatively disposed between the bracket arm 26 and cam detent 27 normally maintains shaft 24 in its right hand position as seen in Figure 2 so that the cam 23 is axially positioned in substantially coplanar relation with respect to the actuator arm 16 as shown in Figure 3. The means for operating the actuator arm 16 comprises a swingable depending lever 33 which is articulately connected through link 34 to the free end of arm 35 secured to a rotatable shaft 36. Rotatably secured to the shaft 36 is a universal bail 37 having a swingable shaft portion 40 which normally overlies the rearward ends of the key levers, such as 41, of the machine.

As will be apparent when any one of the various key levers is depressed the resultant counter clockwise movement, Figure 2, of the universal bail 37 will, through link 34 and lever 33, serve to forwardly displace the link 20, which in turn serves to swing the actuator arm 16 in a clockwise direction, Figure 2, so as to thereby elevate the ribbon vibrator to an extent determined by the engagement of the upper edge of arm 16 with the lower peripheral edge of the ribbon positioning cam 23. Release of the depressed key lever results in the restoration of the parts to their normal positions. The periphery of cam 23 has a predetermined contour lying in the path of movement of the actuator link 16 so that depending on the detented rotatably indexed position thereof the upward movements of the arm 16 and vibrator body 8 will be operationally arrested in the stencil, black and red typing positions respectively. Except for the spring biased axially shiftable movement possible for shaft 24, the construction, arrangement and operation of the above described apparatus are more or less conventional in nature and hence need not be further particularized here.

To the pivotally mounted top cover 42, Figure 1, of the typewriter there is articulately secured a link 43 which is pivotally connected to the forwardly extending arm 44 of a bell crank 45. Bell crank 45 is pivotally mounted on the machine frame by means of a shaft 46 and has a depending arm 47 that is articulately connected to the short radial arm 50 of a bail 51 through a link 52. The long radial arm 53 f bail 51 is rotatably secured to a shaft 54 which is provided with a radially extending crank arm 55; the free end of the latter being disposed immediately to the rear of the bent off lug 56 formed on the depending portion 57 of said link 16. As will be evident when top cover 42, which in said Royal portable is normally latched in a closed position and spring biased to an open position, is lifted from the closed position shown to open position the bail 51 will partake of a counter clockwise stroke through the linkage just described and will, through said bent oif lug 6, operate the ribbon vibrator actuating linkage to elevate the vibrator to an extended upward position which is located above its highest operational position, i.e. the red typing position. In this extended position of maximum height the ribbon vibrator will be conveniently accessible for ribbon changing operations and will virtually eliminate the chances of the operators hands touching any of the adjacent machine parts.

In order to permit this extended elevation of the vi.- brator the ribbon positioning cam 23 must be removed from the path of upward movement of the actuator arm 16. To accomplish this the depending arm 47 of bell crank 45 is also articulately connected to one end of a lever 60 by means of a link 61. Lever 60 is pivotally mounted on the vertically disposed stud 62 secured to the machine frame and is provided with a forwardly extending arm 63 the outer end of which is disposed immediately to the right of said crank arm 30 secured to said shaft 24. Thus during the above noted elevation of the top cover 42 the lever arm 60 will be arcuately displaced by the rotation of bell crank 45 so as to axially displace shaft 24 against the action of spring 32 to a left hand position wherein the said cam 23 is positioned out of the operative path of travel of the said vibrator actuator arm 16 thus permitting said vibrator to be moved to said extendedposition as above described.

It will be noted that the stud 64, Figures 3 and 4, interconnecting links 20 and 22 is provided with a sufiicient axial portion 65 to accommodate the axial movement of shaft 24 and link 22.

Means are provided for automatically moving the ribbon retaining fingers 12 and 13 to their open positions in response to the movement of the vibrator body 8 to said maximum height. A card guide member 66 which is suitably secured at its lower end to the machine frame is provided with a forwardly extending bent off ear 67 which lies in the upper end of the path of travel of the inwardly extending arms 68 and 69 formed on the said ribbon retaining fingers 12, 13 respectively. Thus when the ribbon vibrator is displaced to said extended position the ear 67 will be engaged by the upper edges of arms 68, 69' whereby the terminal portion of the upward movement of the vibrator causes said ribbon retaining fingers to be swung to and held in their respective open positions against the action of spring 14, as shown in Figure 4. In this condition of the parts, the vibrator will be positioned and arranged to facilitate the removal of the old or used ribbon and the insertion. of .a new ribbon into the typewriter. After the new ribbon has been properly installed the top cover 42 in being restored to its normal closed position will, through the linkage described, permit the various parts to be restored to their respective normal positions shown in Figures 1-3 through the respective actions of springs 14, 32 and the usual other related springs of the typewriter.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form-of the same is shown for purposes of illustration only and that the invention may be modified and embodied invarious other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a typewriter having a frame, a top cover movably mounted on said frame, a ribbon vibrator, and means for reciprocating saidvibrator in timed relation to the printing-operations of the typewriterythe improvement comprising additional means for moving said vibrator to an extended ribbonchanging position, and manually controlled means including said top cover for operating said additional means;

2. In a typewriter having a frame, a top cover movably mounted on said frame, a plurality of type bars pivotally mounted on said frame, a ribbon vibrator, and means supported by said frame for' reciprocating said vibrator during the operative stroke of each of said type bars; the improvement comprising means operated in response to the lifting of said top cover for bodily moving said vibrator to an extended position to facilitate the installation of a new ribbon in'the typewriter.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 2 additionally comprising at least one ribbon retaining finger movably mounted on said vibrator and adapted. to be' moved to an open and a closed position, and means for moving said finger to an open position in response to the bodily movement of said vibrator to said extended position.

4. In a typewriter having a frame, a top cover movably mounted on said frame, a ribbon vibrator movably mounted on said frame, and means for selectively moving said vibrator from a normal inoperative position to red and black character typing positions respectively during theprinting operations of said typewriter; the improvement comprising means responsive'to movement of said top cover for moving said vibrator from said normal position to a further extended ribbon changing position.

5. Apparatus as defined by'claim 4; additionally comprising a pair of ribbon retaining fingers movably mounted on said vibrator and being movable to open and normally closed positions, andmeans for moving said fingers to said'open positions in response to the movement of said vibrator to said extended position; said fingers andsaid vibrator being rmtored to-their respective normal positions upon restoring said typewriter top cover to its normal position.

6. In a typewriter having a frame, a top cover pivotally mounted on saidframe, a plurality of type bars pivotally mounted on said frame, a vertically movableribbon vvibrator mounted on said frame for reciprocating movement, and means for selectively moving said vibrator from a lower inoperative position to black and red typing positions respectively during operation of said type bars; the improvement comprising additional means for vertically moving said vibrator, manually controlled means including said top cover for operating said additional means for elevating said vibrator to a further extended position of maximum height, a pair of ribbon retaining fingers pivotally mounted onsaid'vibrator and being movable to open and closed positions, and means responsive to the vertical movement of saidvibrator to said maximum height for: displacing said fingers to open positions to facilitate the insertion of a new. ribbon.

7. In a typewriter having a frame, a plurality of type 6 bars pivotally mounted on said frame, a ribbon vibrator for moving said finger to said open position in response slidably mounted on said frame, and means for selecto and during the terminal portion of the upward movetively moving said vibrator from a normal inoperative ment of the vibrator to said extended position. lower position to elevated red and black typing positions respectively in timed relation to the operation of said 5 References Cited in the file of this Patent type bars; the improvement comprising at least one rib- UNITED STATES PATENTS bon retaining finger movably mounted on said vibrator 929 44 Ritz Oct 10 1933 and being adapted to be moved to open and closed posi- 2 788,110 P Apr, 9, 1957 tions, spring operated means for bodily moving said vi- 2,822,909 Roy Feb. 11, 1958 brator to a further extended elevated position, and means 10 2,919,784 Morris J an. 5, 1960 

